Winter sports and travel insurance: a myth busted

Recent newspaper reports of winter sports holidaymakers having problems claiming on their travel insurance are greatly exaggerated.

12 million UK people will head for the slopes in the 2014-15 season according to the Association of British Travel Agents. How many complaints about disputed travel insurance claims does the Financial Ombudsman Service receive per year? Around four thousand.

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Check that the cancellation cover on your travel insurance covers the pre-travel period

Having to cancel a holiday, whatever the reason, is bad enough. But what makes it worse is having to cancel, then finding that you don't have a claim for  a refund under your travel insurance.

We find that a surprising number of people opt for cancellation cover that only becomes active the day they travel. When you think about it, the likeliest time to cancel is between booking and travelling, so it's common sense to ensure that your cancellation cover is valid for that period.

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Winter holidaying this year? Here's how to choose the right travel insurance policy.

Onestop4's Annual Multi-Trip policy is ideal if your trip to the snowy slopes is just one of your holidays in a twelve month period. It's perfect for ski fans aged 65 or under because you'll be covered free of charge for up to 31 days winter sports activity each time you travel. That's pretty much unheard of at no extra charge. And of course all your other non-winter holiday trips will be covered as well.

If, on the other hand, you only need cover for the one holiday, our Single Trip policy gives you the flexibility to keep costs down by just selecting cover for the activities you need and excluding the rest.

There's also our Fit-4-Travel policy - the right option for anyone with a pre-existing medical condition before taking off on any kind of holiday.

Here's a quick guide to the remarkably comprehensive specialist winter sports cover you'll get whichever Onestop4 policy you choose:

• Cover for on-piste skiing and snowboarding, plus off-piste skiing and snowboarding when accompanied by a professionally qualified guide
• Generous equipment cover for accidental loss, damage or theft
• Cover for hired equipment
• Compensation for winter sports lessons, hired equipment and lift pass if you are prevented from taking part in winter sports due to accident, illness or injury during your holiday
• Compensation for winter sports lessons, hired equipment and lift pass if you are prevented from taking part in winer sports by adverse snow conditions or an avalanche in your resort resulting in piste closure
• Avalanche which causes delays to your outward or return journey

Get full details of all our policies at onestop4.co.uk or call free 0800 848 8448 for a confidential chat with one of our travel and health experts.

On a cruise this winter? Plan your healthcare needs first

There are doctors and pharmacies aplenty on board a cruise ship, but it's the costs that may make you queasy. Over the counter remedies are far dearer than at your local shops, and a consultation with a doctor can cost around £300, plus the cost of the medicines!

Our tips are:

• Take a medicine chest with plenty of everyday products for tummy upsets, colds, headaches etc
• Get your GP to prescribe enough of anything prescription medicines to take to last the whole journey
• Double check that your travel insurance covers all pre-existing medical conditions, otherwise you could find yourself marooned in mid-ocean without insurance
• Get an EHIC card - they're free from NHS Choices, so avoid the websites that try to charge you

Check out our Cruise Insurance policy, especially if you're planning a long winter cruise. It can cover anyone up to the age of 99, all pre-existing medical conditions are covered subject to screening acceptance. We also extend cancellation cover to the whole holiday, including flights, hotels and excursions, so you're less likely to be out of pocket. And the maximum duration of the holiday under our policy is a very generous 183 days.

Ebola could affect your travel plans more than you think

South Africa, Kenya, Cape Verde, Seychelles and Mauritius are among the popular destinations that have closed their borders to anyone who was recently in an Ebola affected country.

Travel to Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia is extremely unwise of course, and the UK Foreign Office advises against such journeys until the epidemic is over.

But trips to popular African destinations like South Africa, and holiday islands including Cape Verde, the Seychelles and Mauritius can also be affected. All these countries have closed their borders to anyone arriving from the Ebola zone - and to passengers whose passport shows they have passed through those countries in recent weeks. In fact similar restrictions are in place for most countries worldwide, including the popular Caribbean resorts such as Antigua and Jamaica. The period varies, it's 30 days in the case of Cape Verde for example.

Don't travel if these restrictions apply to you. Your travel insurance policy won't be valid, and chances are you'll need to be repatriated at your own expense.

And now, with so much rumour and misinformation swirling around the subject, here's a quick guide to what travellers need to know about Ebola.

First and foremost, as the official World Health Organisation fact sheet confirms, Ebola is a very difficult disease to catch. The virus cannot spread by air or water, and can only be transmitted by physical contact with blood, sweat or other bodily fluids from an infected person or animal. WHO also states that there is very low risk of the disease being contracted during air travel.

Is Ebola spreading? The good news is that Nigeria and Senegal have now been declared Ebola free by WHO. However a worrying sign is that Kenya (which has never had a single case of Ebola, like most African countries) closed a border crossing from Uganda on 10 October following reports of an Ebola-related death there. There is also a confirmed but unrelated outbreak of a different version of the virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Tourism to parts of Africa unaffected by Ebola is certainly being hit by fear of the epidemic. According to the Tourism Business Council of South Africa, reported in the Daily Telegraph on 20 October, there is "alarm in the market" because people misunderstand how the virus spreads and where the affected countries are. In fact Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea are closer to London than to South Africa.

It's essential to remember that if you cancel a holiday because of misplaced fears about Ebola, your travel insurance company won't consider your claim valid.

Taking your technology on holiday? Check your insurance first

Your gadgets are not necessarily covered by your travel or home insurance policies.

A recent Daily Mail story points out that most travel insurance has a single item limit on technology. And this won't even cover the cost of replacing the average smartphone. 

"No problem, I'm covered by my home insurance". Think again. Items taken out of the home are not usually included unless you pay an extra premium for extra cover.

Onestop4's Fit-4-Travel policy could be the solution. It provides up to £300 cover for any single item and up to £3000 in total for all possessions - well above average for travel insurance. Still not enough for all your technology? We suggest you either look at specialist gadget insurance, or ensure that your items are covered on an "all risks basis" within your home content insurance policy.

And do check your bank account. Some added value accounts now include travel and gadget cover.

With onestop4’s recent launch of the Fit-4-Travel policy to now also include cover for UK Expatriates who are residing in the EU, it’s important to understand what as an Expat you should look out for when buying travel insurance.

Whilst some other insurers do offer a travel insurance for EU residents living outside of the UK, we believe our product to be one of the most comprehensive and inclusive policies on the market, offering a range of unique features we feel are important for EU residents purchasing travel insurance. 

Our Fit-4-Travel insurance provides the cover you need and in our experience are most likely to need, as a traveller living in the European Union. Our knowledge and experience allows us to specialise in also offering travel insurance to older persons with serious medical conditions who are residents in EU countries outside of the UK. We pride ourselves on providing cover for travellers who struggle to find high quality travel insurance elsewhere.

It’s our experience that you are more likely to require treatment for a medical issue, or need to cancel your travel plans because of either your own, or someone on whom you trip depends, their health, deteriorates sufficiently requiring you to cancel your proposed trip. So when you compare other insurances with an excess of €250 you will be pleased when you see the excess we charge is €50 for medical treatment or cancellation and for a small premium of €9 or £9 (plus taxes if these are applicable to your Country of Residence) can waive the excess completely. This means you have at worst a low limit, or better still a nil limit on the cost that you must pay for treatment yourself or stand in the event of a cancellation.

Our cover includes a Medical Screening Service which can be undertaken online yourself or you can call us on  +44 (0) 1689 892 227 and we will then ensure we do cover those conditions that you declare and provide peace of mind, so that should you need to use the insurance whilst travelling you will be covered. It is important that you declare all health conditions when asked about your health, failure to do so would invalidate your policy. We operate an “all in” policy, so we cover all your health conditions and not just a select few.

If you find that you require ski or golf cover, or are planning on getting married abroad, then these optional additional covers can be purchased as optional extras and added onto your policy, thus allowing you to tailor your cover for your trip.

Our Fit-4-Travel insurance is designed to meet the needs of modern living to include today’s ever expanding British expatriate population living in the EU.  Our policy includes short trips within and outside your adopted European country of residence which have no age limits, giving you the freedom to travel whilst still knowing you are covered by a high quality British travel insurance policy you can trust. Alternatively we have an Annual policy which may make better financial sense if you travel a few times a year. Travel back to the UK is covered as though you were travelling in your home location or current Country of Residence – which is the lowest rated of all areas available for travel.

Fit-4-Travel Insurance is unique in providing cover for trips that include 2 nights pre-booked and paid accommodation in your adopted country of residence. This means that you can explore a new area or get to know the country your living in better, whilst still being covered by our insurance.

When buying travel insurance if you live outside of the UK it is important to make sure you are clear what you are purchasing. From our research some ‘Expat Travel Insurance’ may in fact refer to long stay or backpacker policies rather than for people who have residence in a European country outside of the UK. You may also find that many medical conditions are not able to be covered.

Onestop4 provides cover for UK Residents and UK Expatriates who are residing in Europe including: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Channel Islands, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Ireland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, and who are planning to travel from and return to their home location (meaning the country you have been permanently living in for at least six months of the twelve months before you buy this policy.)

If you prefer to buy your policy in £ sterling rather than € Euros then this option is also available to you.

Fires in Chile’s popular tourist city of Valparaiso force thousands to evacuate

Over 10,000 people have been forced to evacuate the popular port city of Valparaiso in Chile. Forest fires spread to the city on Saturday night and the fast moving fire has so far killed 12 of the city’s residents.

Over 1,200 firefighters have been tackling the blaze and Chilean President Michelle Bachelet has put the army in charge of evacuation declaring the city a disaster zone and putting security forces on the streets to maintain order and prevent looting.

Valparaiso is a popular tourist destination and strong Pacific winds which have hampered the emergency response and have pushed the fire deeper into the city’s surrounding neighbourhoods. This has led to fears that the fire could spread to the centre of the city and the Unesco World Heritage Site old centre, which includes the former house turned museum of world-famous Latin American poet Pablo Neruda.

Large parts of the city are without electricity and there are fears for residents’ health due to smoke inhalation.

Fires are frequent during the hot summer months in central Chile. This is the second emergency the country has faced this year, as only 2 weeks ago a 8.2 earthquake and subsequent tsunami hit northern Chile.

If you have been affected by the evacuation of Valparaiso due to the forest fires then International Travel and Healthcare clients are supported by emergency assistance providers Specialty Assist and Global Response, both based here in the UK.   If you require evacuation, repatriation, medical assistance the following numbers will be able to help you:   Clients travelling with a Fit-4-Travel policy who require emergency assistance should contact Global Response on: +44 (0) 203 538 0492 Clients travelling on one of our Single Trip, Annual Multi-Trip or Cruise policies should contact Specialty Assist on: +44 (0) 207 902 7405     

Northern Europe - the new top destination for cruise holidays

Northern Europe - the new top destination for cruise holidays

2013 was a record year for the UK cruise industry as UK port embarkations passed the one million point for the first time. UK residents take over 2 million cruises each year, and an increasing number of travellers take more than 1 cruise a year. The UK is Europe’s biggest cruise market and accounts for an average of 27% of all cruise passengers on board a ship. 2014 will see the introduction of 24 more cruise ships into this constantly evolving and fast growing market.

2013 saw Europe as the destination of choice for one in three British cruise passengers, with the Mediterranean retaining its title as the most popular route for cruises. But 2013 also saw an increase of 20% of cruise passengers visiting Northern Europe and if this trend continues it could mean that 2014 sees the Mediterranean fall into second place as the cruise destination of choice for the first time. River cruising has also continued to grow with 20,000 Britons taking European river cruise holidays in 2013.

With breath-taking landscapes and historic cities, Europe has something for everyone and over the last decade the range of cruise choices in Europe has opened up a host of new destinations including Greenland, the Norwegian fjords and the polar islands. 2014 will also mark the 70^th anniversary of the D-Day landings and a number of ocean and river cruises will be visiting the Normandy beaches as part of the memorial tributes to those who fell. 

If you are planning a cruise holiday then taking out a good travel insurance policy should be paramount in your pre-trip plans. All cruise operators require their passengers to have valid travel insurance. Cruise Insurance by Onestop4: is specifically designed to offer everything a cruise traveller really needs from their insurance. Onestop4:Cruise Insurance offers cancellation cover for the full value of your holiday, even for a cruise that is £100,000 or more. Onestop4: Cruise Insurance also offers cover for mature travellers up to the age of 100 and for those travelling with pre-existing medical conditions – subject to a free and fast medical screening.

Fit-4-Travel Insurance, also available from Onestop4: is perfect for River Cruises – with no age restrictions and subject to acceptance following a medical screening, is capable of offering cover for travellers with the most significant medical conditions.

Onestop4 Cruise Insurance and Fit-4-Travel Insurance is available via the Onestop4 website or by calling 0800 848 8448.

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Ebola Outbreak

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared the Ebola virus outbreak in West Africa as "one of the most challenging" it has ever faced. The number of people who have been killed by the virus in Guinea has passed 100, and it has also killed 10 people in Liberia.

The World Health Organisation has stated that it could take up to four months to subdue the outbreak.

The Ebola virus is spread by close contact and has a high mortality rate as there is no known cure. As many West African states have porous borders and people frequently travel between countries this has raised fears about the virus spreading. Mali is currently on high alert and has stated it will tighten its borders.

This is the first known outbreak of the virus in Guinea as the most recent Ebola cases have been thousands of miles away in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.

Regarding travel to West Africa the WHO website has stated that ‘The risk of infection for travellers is very low since most human infections result from direct contact with the body fluids or secretions of infected patients, particularly in hospitals (nosocomial transmission) and as a result of unsafe procedures, use of contaminated medical devices (including needles and syringes) and unprotected exposure to contaminated body fluids. Travellers should avoid all contact with infected patients.’

‘Anyone who stayed in the areas where EVD cases have been recently reported should be aware of the symptoms of infection and advised to seek medical attention at the first sign of illness.’ Finally WHO has stated that at the present time it ‘does not recommend that any travel or trade restrictions be applied in respect to this event.’

For more information on symptoms and updates on the spread of the virus and any affects this may have on travel please visit http://www.who.int/mediacentre/en/

Thinking of Holiday Insurance?

Holidays are supposed to be fun, relaxing and a chance to unwind for everyone. However, as many of us know, as soon as we let our hair down - we can become accident prone. After having fun, keeping safe should always be your number one priority when travelling abroad. Holiday insurance is the best way to protect yourself on holiday, the risks of travelling without insurance heavily outweigh the cost. Annual Multi-Trip policies offer great protection if you take more than one trip a year, and at oonestop4 these are available for travellers up to 86 years (of youth), which is very unusual.

Holiday insurance can come in handy, especially if, you have to cancel your trip. Onestop4 policies will cover you if your holiday has to be cancelled due to an unforeseen event occuring. If you accidently injure yourself whilst away, suddenly become ill, or even lose something – holiday insurance is there to provide you with that financial safety net, just in case. Onestop4 policies will also cover you if you lose cash and other personal belongings and importantly if you have any pre-existing medical conditions.

The peace of mind that comes with being insured, can sometimes far out way the benefits of actually having the insurance. This will instantly make you feel like you have more freedom abroad. If you want to go hiking? Bungee jumping? Swimming? It's not a problem with a onestop4 travel insurance, and you won’t have to worry about what would happen, if in the unlikely event something did go wrong.

Holiday insurance is all about planning for the best, but preparing for the worst. The majority of travellers understand this, and always take out insurance wherever they go. Not only does it give you extra protection, it will also make your family feel more at ease.

Unfortunately, stories of people having accidents abroad are more common than most travellers realise. The news is full with stories of people who have  had a mishap, whilst on holiday, so please don’t be another statistic.

Make sure to always get the best possible quote you can, don’t be tempted by cheaper deals – these can often have exclusions which mean you won’t be as protected as you may think or have hidden high excesses to pay if you do need to make a claim. Lastly, holiday insurance aside, have a great time!

Kate Huet Google+

Widow Of Cruise Ship Storm Victim Criticises Maintenance On Board

The widow of a man who was killed by a huge wave hitting a cruise ship during a storm on 14 February has criticized the maintenance aboard the vessel.

The 22,000 tonne ship was heading to the Essex port of Tilbury at the end of its 42-night trip when Helen Swinstead's husband died as the windows of the Marco Polo vessel blew out and hit him on the head while he was dining in the restaurant.

Water crashed through the window and injured several of the 735 passengers, many of whom were British. Among the passengers injured was an elderly woman who had to be airlifted to hospital after the wave hit the boat.

Swinstead's widow praised the crew, but criticized the shipping company, saying that the ship was badly maintained and the operator should compensate people. She said that four of the windows blew and added that she had mentioned to her husband that there was a rusty puddle on the window sill. Swinstead is waiting to hear from the cruise company.

Operator Cruise and Maritime Voyages (CMV) commented that the ship was fully compliant with strict maritime regulations. The safety and comfort of passengers is and will be number one priority and of significant importance to the company, said Christian Verhounig, chief executive of CMV. The Marco Polo undergoes stringent and thorough surveys, it is regularly inspected and an annual dry docking survey and certification were conducted recently, he noted.

Kate Huet Google+

Scotland, Italy Among Top Fishing Spots

Fishing trips often combine the sport with great sightseeing. Among the best places to enjoy your hobby and also take in the magnificence of nature are Scotland, Sicily and Thailand, according to Canadian travel website Cheapflights, which has compiled a list of locations especially suitable for fishing enthusiasts that would allow them to both practise their hobby and get to see some of the most beautiful parts of the world.

First among these destinations is Sutherland in Scotland. The area is famous for salmon and brown and sea trout, and fishing at the Kyle estuary is allowed every day except Sunday. Offering magnificent scenery, the location is suitable for novice anglers, with the local Angling Association providing them and their more experienced fellow fishermen with a booklet listing the best spots to make a catch. The daily permit for sea trout fishing is priced at £8.

Still in Europe, another great spot for fishing enthusiasts is Sicily, Italy. Although the fish population has started to dwindle as a result of too much fishing, it is still a perfect location to try spearfishing. This ancient form of fishing allows you to combine the activity with diving, adding charm to the experience. The most common fish around the coasts of Sicily are tuna, blue fish and sardines.

If you have a passion for deep sea fishing, visiting the Thai island of Phuket is a perfect choice. The Andaman Sea is one of the best places for deep sea fishing with its crystal clear waters and populations of tuna, marlin - blue and black - and swordfish. Although fishing there is only on a catch-and-release basis, the experience is still unique.

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Over 70 And Need Travel Insurance? Here's What You Should Be Looking For

If you're over 70 and planning a holiday, it's likely that you'll be looking for the appropriate travel insurance. Some over-70s may have postponed trips of a lifetime due to pre-existing medical conditions. If this is you, you may have found the prospect of flying away to a foreign country, or even travelling to other parts of the UK, somewhat daunting - largely due to concerns about such conditions flaring up whilst away from home. However, if you know what to look out for during your hunt for holiday insurance, you can ensure you are covered, and this feeling of having a 'safety net' in place can help give you peace of mind whilst away.

Firstly, it is important to choose an insurer specialising in travel insurance for all ages. They will often have comprehensive plans in place to suit your circumstances.

Depending on the type of holiday you have booked, and what activities you have planned, you may have differing insurance requirements to others. For example, a European long weekend away will have a different rate than if you plan on travelling across Asia for six months. You may be planning a cruise, in which case a specialist cruise insurance policy will be the option for you.

The length of your holiday will, of course, be a factor when choosing the correct policy for you. If you are away for an extended period of time (travelling for many months, on a working holiday or sabbatical, for example) you will need to opt for a 'long stay policy'. However, even if you are simply planning a UK mini-break, it is still a good idea to have cancellation cover in place. If you've booked to rent an expensive cottage or stay in an upmarket hotel, you wouldn't want to lose any money if, for whatever reason, you could not attend.

If you enjoy caravanning holidays, consider taking out a special caravan insurance policy to cover you whilst you are on your trip. You will be able to enjoy your holiday to the maximum, safe in the knowledge that you, your caravan, and even your pets, are covered.

Also take into account how frequently you travel. If you are an avid holidaymaker, or even if you go on holiday more than twice a year, you may want to search for an annual policy.

66 Fall Ill On Royal Caribbean Cruise

Sixty-six passengers fell ill aboard the Majesty of the Seas cruise ship last week, according to a statement from Royal Caribbean International.

During the four-night cruise 66 of the 2,300 passengers became sick with a stomach illness, vomiting and diarrhoea, with two of the more than 800 crew members also experiencing gastrointestinal issues, the statement said. The company believes that the cause is norovirus, which is described by the US-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as a highly contagious bug that can be spread by an infected person, contaminated water or food, or if a person is in contact with contaminated surfaces, Royal Caribbean reported.

The company said that passengers responded well to drugs administered onboard and that it had undertaken enhanced cleaning of the ship during the journey to help prevent the illness from spreading further.

The ship docked in Miami and after that Royal Caribbean conducted an "extensive and thorough sanitizing" onboard and within the cruise terminal in an effort to prevent the sickness from affecting the next sailing.

Before boarding, the passengers on the next trip received a letter asking if they had experienced any gastrointestinal issues over the past three days. Those who did not feel well were allowed to reschedule their trip, according to the company.

Back in May 2013, a fire broke out on another Royal Caribbean cruise ship, the Grandeur of the Seas, which forced people to fly back home. And in February last year a fire in the engine-room of the Carnival Triumph, operated by Carnival Cruise Lines, forced the ship to drift in the Gulf of Mexico for several days.

Cruise Travel Insurance provided by Onestop4 steps in to financially compensate passengers affected by these types of events. ‘Withdrawal of Services’ cover is just one of the many comprehensive benefits provided as standard as part of this specialist cruise insurance.

Kate Huet, MD, International Travel and Healthcare Limited said  “ It is no fun being on a cruise ship with a norovirus outbreak. Until the ship has been fully sanitised passengers are confined to stop the virus spreading. Amenities are immediately withdrawn and it is not unusual for passengers to be confined to their cabins until the sanitising has been completed, a long job on a cruise ship with 4000+ passengers.

Similarly, the loss of engines after a fire results in no power, and with that no air conditioning, refrigeration of food, heating of food, flushing toilets and many other discomforts materialise.

We encourage all cruise passengers to ensure that they have adequate cruise insurance, which recognises that once on board you are unable to simply check out and relocate to the nearest hotel, as you would be able to if your holiday hotel was not meeting your expectations. Cruising is a different “risk” and passengers need to be aware that they could be affected by more events than a typical hotel-type holiday would normally present”

Onestop4 Cruise Insurance is available via the Onestop4 website or calling 0800 848 8448.